Tape recorder



R. L. ROST TAPE RECORDER April 5, 1966 8 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed July l0, 1961 R. L. ROST TAPE RECORDER April 5, 1966 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July l0. 1961 2/5 /NvE/vroRs Jzc Ziard DJEOS Arron 5y April 5, 1966 n.1.. RosT 3,244,378

TAPE RECORDER Original Filed July 10, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ffes ATT EY R. L. ROST TAPE RECORDER April 5, 1966 original Filed July 1o. 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 /NvEA/rof? Rzcard b21-305% ATTORNEY April 5, 1966 R. L. Ros'r 3,244,378

TAPE RECORDER Original Filed July 10. 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 R. L. ROST TAPE RECORDER April 5, 1966 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed July 10, 1961 @UW @i April 5, 1966 R. Ros'r 3,244,378

TAPE RECORDER Original Filed July 10, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet '2 .FIQ.14I 26a //V VEN TORS Richard L, R05? R. L. ROST TAPE RECORDER April 5, 1966 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed July lO, 1961 ..225 ..25 Zoo Eo. mok.

...-oxok Richard Ljo'' g ORA/EY United States Patent O 3,244,378 TAPE RECGRDER Richard L. Rost, Barrington, Ill., assignor to Zenith Radio Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Original application July 10, 1961, Ser. No. 122,916, now Patent No. 3,105,645, dated Oct. 1, 1963. Divided and this application Sept. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 305,968

Claims. (Cl. 242-55.13)

This application is a division of the copending application of Richard L. Rost, Serial No. 122,916, -filed July 10, 1961, now Patent No. 3,105,645, for Tape Recorder, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

This invention relates to recording and reproducing devices. More specifically, it relates to apparatus for automatically playing one or a plurality of record-bearing members, such as tapes, each respectively housed in a separate cartridge.

The-re are numerous types of recording and reproducing equipment available and they may be readily divided into two basic classes. In the first class there are those devices which employ two interchangeable reels and have -a transport mechanism which moves the reco-rd, be it tape or wire, from reel to reel, In' the second class there are those devices which employ magazines containing the records. 'Ihe simplest of devices of lthe latter class employs a cartridge containing both a supply reel having the record Wound thereon and a take-up reel for receiving the record as it is being played. A preferred device of the magazine type utilizes cartridges, individually having a record wound -upon a supply reel therein, in conjunction with a single take-up reel serving all cartridges that are played.

Almost all of the machines which utilize the reel to reel transport mechanism require that the operator thread the tape through the transport mechanism and rewind the tape after it has been played. Furthermore, most of the machines will only accept one reel at a time. After a reel has been played it must be rewound, removed, and a new reel inserted and threaded through the machine.

The machines that use the two-reel type cartridge eliminate some of the problems of the reel to reel type machine, but the cartridge must be rewound by Ithe operator or played in the reverse direction to get back to the beginning of the first selection on the tape. Each cartridge must be removed from the machine after playing and a new cartridge inserted. Moreover, cartridges containing two reels are necessarily large and are cumbersome to handle and store.

Nce

noted deficiencies and disadvantages of prior recording and reproducing apparatus.

It is a further object of this invention to provide selfthreading reeling apparatus which automatically plays a plurality of pre-recorded tapes or wires contained in individual cartridges. Another object of this invention is to provide recording and reproducing apparatus which reduces the operators functions to a minimum. i

Still another object of this invention is to provide tape recording Iapparatus which is both inexpensive to manufacture and utilizes a minimum number of components.

It is a corollary object of this invention to provide a new cartridge breaking system to prevent the reco-rd from spilling -from the cartridge when the cartridge is not in position -about the spindle of the recording and reproducing device.

In accord-ance with the invention `t-he reeling apparatus is of the type which may accommodate a plurality of exible tapes each housed on a separate supply reel. It features a cartridge feed mechanism for presenting the cartridges sequentially :to a Aplaying position. Specilically, it comprises a bin havin-g a major opening -for accepting and storing the supply reels, and a platform positioned within the bin opposite that opening for supporting the supply reels. T'he apparatus further comprises means for biasing the platform toward .the opening. A supply reel feeding mechanism is provided including an oscillating support positioned adjacent the bin, a first stop abutment upon the support normally projecting into the bin in the path of supply reels fed from the binand a second stop abut-ment on the support spaced from the first abutment in the direction of the plaform by an amount equal to the thickness of a supply reel and normally clear of Ithe feed path. The apparatus also comprises means for oscillating the support to retract the f-rst abutment from, while concurrently introducing the second abutment into, the feed path to permit the platform to advance and feed one supply reel and for thereafter returning the abutments to their normal positions. The first abutment -is mounted on 'the support for pivotal movement from its normal position to a second position clear of the path in response to the insertion of a s-upply reel into the bin, and there are means for biasing that abutment about its pivoted support to its normal position. As a protective or foolproof feature of the invention which Vfavorably complements the above type of structure, -a stop means projects into the hin above the platform for normally blocking the insertion of supply reels therein. This precludes fouling of the machine and/ or mutilation of the tape which woul-d occur if one Y attempted to insert a cartridge durin-g, for example, the

With the development of a recording cartridge containing only a supply reel which is approximately the size of a folded handkerchief, it has been possible to construct a recording and reproducing device for such cartridges which eliminates many of the previously mentioned undesirable characteristics of prior recording apparatus.

In the copending applications of Richard G. Schmid, Serial No. 122,929, now Patent No. 3,136,464, Ralph W. Galke et al., Serial No. 122,715, now Patent No. 3,170,- 651, Eugene J. Polley et al., Serial No. 122,930, now Patent No. 3,105,646, Maurice E. Hardy, Serial No. 122,934, now Patent No. 3,164,331, and Maurice E. Hardy, Serial No. 122,933, now Patent No. 3,107,835, all tiled concurrently with the aboveunentioned parent application Serial No. 122,916, now Patent No. 3,105,645, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, there are described and claimed devices and apparatus which are closely related to the present invention.

It is a primary object of the present invention to develop .apparatus which overcomes or minimizes the aforenormal playing operation. Of course, means are provided for selectively removing the stop means during quiescent intervals to permit loading of the reels into the bin.

In further harmony with the invention, the reeling apparatus is for use with a flexible tape employing a coupler connected as a termination -at one end. The apparatus includes a transport mechanism including a drive motor for moving the tape between a supply reel and a take-up reel and comprises a leader connected to the take-up reel andan extractor connected to the leader for mechanically enga-ging the coupler provided on the tape. A housing is positioned adjacent the supply reel having a passageway extending therethrough for guiding and positioning Ithe extractor for engagement with the coupler, and switch meansA at least partially within the housing responds alternately to the presence and labsence of the extractor i-n the passageway for controlling the operation of lche transport mechanism. Further means exclusive of the switch means, but including the -drive motor is provided for initiating transport ofthe tape between the supply and take-up reel, respectively.

In further accordance with the invention, the cartridge containing the elongated exible tape is .constructed to include 'a brake to prevent unwinding of the tape during storage. The cartridge comprises iirst and second walls each having a cent-rally located aperture. An annular pedestal or inwardly extending iiange is positioned concentrically about the Iaperture on one of the walls .and has a plurality of teeth extending radially outward from a peripheral surface thereof. A hub is mounted for rotation between the Walls about the apertures thereof and has a transverse passageway therein las well -as an aperture :for receiving -a driving shaft. A locking element of gener-ally T-shaped configuration is mounted within the recess of the hub and has a toothed portion projecting out of the recess into overlapping and intermeshing relation with the teeth of the flange for locking the hub against rotation. Specifically, the central portion of the T-shaped element extends through the passageway into the aperture of the hub and is displaceable along the passageway to release the Ihnb for rotation when the shaft enters the aperture while the transverse portion of the T-shaped element comprises resilient fingers for biasing the toothed portion into engagement with the teeth of the ange whenever the toothed portion has lbeen displaced from engagement with the ange.

The features of :this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood, however, by reference to the following description :taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIGURE l is a plan View of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View of a cartridge of the type preferably employed with the apparatus of FIG- URE l;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a Vbraking device housed within the cartridge of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional View taken along lines 4 4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5 5 of FIGURE 4:

FIGURE 6 is a partial cross-sectional View take along lines 6 6 of FIGURE 5:

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus shown in the plan View of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view take along lines 8 8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 9 9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE l0 is a fragmentary perspective View partly in section of the extractor housing of FIGURE 1 with the extractor positioned therein;

FIGURE 11 lis a partial cross-sectional View taken along lines Il ll of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view ytaken along lines 12 12 of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 shows three typical positions of a portion of the sensing mechanism shown in FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary perspective View of the reset and sensing mechanism of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 15-15 of FIGURE 14; and

FIGURE 16 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry of the instrument except for the signal reproducing system which is connected to the transcribing head.

The apparatus of FIGURE 1 may be used for transcri-hing tape, wire or other iiexible recording media but, as illustrated, is employed for recording and reproducing on tape. The arrangement is a tape deck or transport which has, as major component parts, one or more cartridges 30 of tape, a storage bin 31 for accommodating such cartridges and a feeding mechanism 38 to present the cartridges seriatim to a playing position, a take-up arrangement including a reel 32 through which tape is presented in coupling or reading relation to `a magnetic transducer head 33, a driving system to effect winding of the tape as between the supply and take-up reels, and a programming arrangement through which the several functions are properly correlated in a playing cycle. For convenience, these major components will be considered individually and in the recited order after which a rsum of the overall operation will be given.

Tape cartridge The tape cartridge yE30-may take any of -a variety of specifically different configurations, a suitable one being represented in FIGURE 2. In addition to being a vehicle for program tape, the cartridge is to satisfy other iniportant requirements. Since it is contemplated that the machine may accommodate one or a series of cartridges storage bin 31, the abutting or contiguous surfaces of successive .cartridges arranged in a stack should preferably have provisions to facilitate their nesting with respect to one another in a stable stack. It is further desirable that the cartridge be formed to facilitate the sequential feed of a group of cartridges to a playing position within bin 31 and `additionally it is preferred that the cartridge have a brake which precludes the unwinding of the tape when the cartridge is stored.

As represented, the cartridge is formed of a pair of essentially rectangular rigid plates with a peripheral flange of such depth that the plates, superposed with their anges in meeting engagement, define a cavity to accommodate the desired number of convolutions of a magnetic tape of a specified Width. Machine screws may retain the plates in assembled relation. The projection 34 on the top surface of one cartridge face may be received by cornplernentary recesses in the bottom surface of a like cartridge stacked on top of that illustrated in order to achieve an interlocking of the cartridges in a sta-ck. The cartridge plates have a formed section at one side to define a shelf 35 which adapts the cartridge to a sequential feed mechanism presently to be considered. For balancing purposes, a generally similar shelf 36 is formed in the diametrically opposite portion of the cartridge. Each of the plates of the cartridge has a centrally located aperture; aperture 37 of one plate is larger than aperture 41 of the other as shown more clearly in FIGURE 5. A hub 42 is interposed between the plates with a reduced diameter section thereof received within aperture 37. The inner diameter of the hub corresponds to the diameter of plate aperture 41 and they collectively define a channelway for accepting a spindle assembly 43, that is, for permitting the cartridge to be threaded over a spindle within storage bin 31.

The hub 42 is rotatably supported within the cartridge and convolutions of the tape material are coiled thereabout. In order to aiix the inner end of the tape, hub 42 has a slot 44 leading to a hole 45. The innermost end of the tape may be inserted through the slot into the hole and locked in place by the insertion of a pin 46. The free end of the magnetic tape 47 terminates in a coupler 51 which appears clearly in FIGURE 2 Where, for purposes of illustration, a short section of tape 47 is shown withdrawn from the contines of the cartridge. The coupler has a bifurcated conguration which defines a channelway 52 into which 'a mating coupler, hereinafter referred to as an extractor, may be inserted to couple tape 47 to a take-up reel. Normally, the tape is completely confined within the cartridge with channelway 52. in alignment with `a similar channelway 53 formed in the corner of the cartridge.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the inner periphery of hub 42 bears a series of formed slots or keyways 54 which are the means through which a mechanical driving connection may be completed to the hub from a driving spindle.

A braking mechanism is constructed within the cartridge to the end that the wound tape will not release or unwind; the details of the brake are revealed in FIG- URES 3, 5 and 6. A portion of hub 42 is relieved or cut-away to accommodate the head 55 of a T-shaped locking element 56 which has a transverse section 57 and a channelway is formed in hub 42 through which section 57 projects as shown in FIGURE 2. A series of teeth 61 are formed in the locking element close to the meeting place of its sections 55 and 57 as shown in FIGURE 3. Element 56 is so held in hub 42 that these teeth normally engage with teeth formed on an inwardly projecting annular surface or flange 62 of one of the cartridge plates to lock the hub against rotation. However, by pushing on portion 57 of locking element 56 these teeth may be disengaged and the hub released. The head portions, 55 of the locking element are resilient so that during intervals in which the teeth are released portions 55 urge them back into locking engagement. The locking engagement of the teeth is released when the cartridge is mounted over a spindle such as that contained in storage bin 31. The recess in hub 42 which houses locking element 56 may be provided with a cover plate (not shown) to keep assembly together.

Storage bini The storage bin is secured to deck 63 and is a generally rectangular cylinder dimensioned and formed to accept one or more cartridges 30 with the cartridges horizontally disposed as represented in FIGURE 4. The cylinder is open at the top and has a platform 64 disposed opposite that opening. The platform is normally biased in the direction of the open end by springs 65 and recedes toward the bottom of the well as cartridges are loaded int-o the bin. Opposed sides of the bin have a vertically disposed slot 66 which shows clearly in FIGURE 7. Pins 67 and 68 extending horizontally from depending flange sections of platform 64 ride in these slots, using them as guides for the platform movement.

It is appropriate to provide a lock out circuit which Aprevents the operation of the tape deck in the absence of al cartridge at the playing level within bin 31. For that purpose, a switch operating lever 71 is supported on a side wall of the bin and urged into the path of travel of pin V67 by a spring 72 as shown in FIGURE l1. The switch lever is confined to a limited path of displacement by a pin and slot arrangement 73. A projection of lever 71 may abut an insulating projection aflixed to the movable blade of a switch pair 74. The free end of lever 71 is canted to constitute a cam surface in order that the lever may be actuated in accordance with the displacement of p When the bin is empty and springs 65 displace platform 64 to its highest position Within the bin, pin 67 is positioned adjacent the tapered end of the lever 71 but is out of contact therewith because of the limited displacement permitted of this lever by pin and slot 73. When a single cartridge is inserted into the bin and depressed to the playing level, which causes platform 64 to be depressed a like amount, pin 67 rides over the wide end of the tapered termination of lever 71 displacing it to the position shown in FIGURE 1l. This closes contact pair 74 and prepares the transport for operation at least so far as this switch pair is concerned.

The pin 67 operates lever 71 as just described and also displaces a cam lever 75 to accomplish automatic shut off in a manner to be explained hereinafter.

Spindle assembly shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 which extends throughout most of the depth of the bin, passing through a centrally located aperture in platform 64 to permit axial movement of vthe platform relative to the spindle. Within sleeve 76 is a drive spindle 77 which carries a collar 7S near the bottom of the bin through which a driven clutch member 81 is urged downwardly by a compression spring 82.

Stationary sleeve 76 is terminated at its upper end in a bearing 83 which has a centrally disposed aperture for receiving drive spindle 77. The upper surface of element 83 defines the general location of the playing position of cartridges within the storage bin. Disposed immediately above the bearing surface of element 83 is a c-ollar 84 and a cap 85 is placed over this collar. The cap is Iconnected to the end of drive spindle 77 through a machine screw 86 and its end is tapered to facilitate threading cartridges thereover. The periphery of collar 84 contiguous to end cap 85 has spaced opposed recesses 87 which lreceive a pair of depending drive fingers 88 extending downwardly from cap 85. This establishes a mechanical coupling from spindle 77 through cap S5 to collar 84 and slots 87 are slightly wider than drive fingers 88 so that there is a relatively free driving connection between them. The obverse face of collar 34 is curved to rest on the bearing surface of element 83.

With this driving connection, cap S5 rotates collar 84 and at the same time .permits movement of the co-llar about its curved bottom surface in a plane substantially transverse to the rotational laxis of the drive spindle which contributes a self-aligning feature and permit-s the mechanism to accommodate cartridges which may have imperfections that, in the absence of this freedom of transverse motion, would tend to bind and stall the machine. A coil spring 91 interposed within collar 84 and :cap 35 urges the collar into coaxial alignment with spindle 77.

The described driving connection is extended from collar 84 to `hub 42 of the cartridge instantaneously in the playing position by means of a pin 92 affixed to the collar and accepted yby one lof the slots 54 of the'cartridge hub as shown in FIGURE 6. If drive pin 92. is not in alignment with a slot in the cartridge hub at the moment the cartridge is fed to the playing position, the pin, which is of crescent shape as shown in FIGURE 7, recedes within :collar 84 against the bias of an annular spring 93 upon which the pin is supported. When it is desirable to extend the mechanical driving connection to hub 42 of that particular cartridge, collar S4 rotates until pin 92 comes into alignment with one of the slots 54. At that time, it enters the slot and completes the mechanical connection.

Bin loading In describing the loading of cartridges into the bin, it will 4be assumed initially that there are no cartridges therein and that platform 64 is in its uppermost position.

The mounting aperture of the first cartridge is slipped over cap 35 of the spindle assembly and pushed downwardly. If the channelway 53 is aligned with a rib 94 projecting into the bin as shown in FIGURE 7, the cartridge may be inserted further by pushing to overcome springs 65. Obviously, the insertion of the cartridge is blocked unless it is properly oriented with respect to rib 94. In the downward movement of the cartridge, the tapered shoulder of cap 85, immediately above driving collar 84, cams locking element 57 radially outwardly to release the locking engagement of its teeth 61 with teeth `62 of the cartridge. Referring to FIGURE 4, as the cartridge is thu-s forced down over the spindle assembly, elements 95 and 96 which normally rest in the path of the cartridges yield, being deflected outwardly of the path by the passage of the cartridge itself. Once the cartridge has been inserted sufficiently to place shelves 35 and 36 thereof beneath the level of stop abutments 95 and 96, respectively, the downward pressure on the cartridge may be relaxed because the cartridge will now be retained within the bin. It will be retained at the playing level by the influence of platform 54 which urges the cartridge upwardly against the restraining effect -of stop abutments 95 and 96 which overlie stop shoulders 35 and 36 once the cartridge has been inserted to a sufficient depth in the bin. A series of cartridges may be loaded in the same manner, stacked one upon another on the spindle assembly until as many as desired have been stored, up to the capacity of the bin. The cartridges will be accepted in the bin only in that orientation which locates their coupler termination 51 properly to achieve a coupling connection with the companion 4coupler or extractor when any stored cartridge is to be transcribed in a manner to be described hereinafter.

As indicated in FIGURE 4, there is an additional element 97 which may project into the bin to preclude adding cartridges to the supply. It is of course desirable to preclude adding cartridges during the time a particular cartridge is being transcribed. Lever 97 is controlled by a lprogramming arrangement to be described -subsequently and rests under shelf 55 of the cartridge instantaneously in the playing position throughout its play. At other times, however, level 97 is withdrawn so that the feeding of cartridges may take place both into and out of the bin. For example, it is essential that ievel 97 be retracted during a cartridge feed cycle and also during load or reject operations as will be made clear.

Cartridge sequential feed The .sequential presentation of cartridges stored within bin 31 to the playing position thereof involves the retraction of stop abutments 95 and 96 to release the cartridge instantaneously in the playing position and, at the same time, the introduction of a third stop abutment 191 into the feed path of the cartridges so that the stack has restricted movement, limited to advancing substantially only the thickness 4of one cartridge in each feed cycle. rlhe mechanism for carrying out this process is shown in FIGURE 7 and also in the detail views of FIGURES 8 and 9. Initial consideration will be given to the assembly including stop abutments 95 and 101.

A post assembly 1612 is secured to the frame or top plate 63 of the transport mechanism as a support for these stop abutments. At its upper surface it carries a T-shaped member 103 which has upstanding flange portions 1114 at opposed ends of what is generally considered the horizontal portion of `the T. These flanges are apertured to receive a stub shaft 195 upon which are pivotally supported depending flanges of a stop plate 106. Post assembly 102 is mounted adjacent one side of bin 31 and stop Iabutment 95 constitutes a forwardly extending projection of member 106 which is normally disposed through 4an opening in the bin into the feed path of cartridges as clearly `illustrated in FIGURE 8. An oppositely directed extension orf member 1113 accommodates an adjusting screw 167 Vand a spring 111 coiled about pivot shaft 155 urges stop plate 196 in a counterclockwise direction; its normal resting position is determined by the engagement of threaded pin 167 with member 103. The adjustment of pi-n 167, in controlling the position of stop abutment 105, restricts the upward movement of car-- tridges 3b under the influence of the upwardly biased platform 64 and in this fashion locates the cartridge engaged by lthe stop abutment at the precise level for playing.

Stop abutment 161, as shown most clearly in FIG-URE 9, comprises one tine of a bifurcated lever 112 which is affixed to a reduced diameter section of post assembly 1412 so that rotation of the lever effects rotation of the post assembly and with it stop abutments 95 and 101. Lever 112 is pivotally connected to a driving lever 113 f5 which may be actuated to oscillate lever 112 and post assembly 162.

The bifurcation in 4lever 112 which makes room for the lree end of abutment which, in loading of cartridges into the bin, is deflected out of thel bin and into the piane of lever 112. Of course, if abutment 95 is short enough not to extend into they plane ofv lever 112, this bifurcation is not required. The location of lever 112 on post assembly 1112 is selected to present stop abutment `161 at a level which is above shelf 36 of the cartridge immediately below the cartridge instantly in the playing position within the bin.

Intermediate plate 112 and the uppermost portion ofV post assembly 102" is the slide plate 97 which extends into bin 31 into the feed path of cartridges, as shown in FGURE S, at all times except during a cartridge feeding cycle, cartridge reject -or during `an index or reference condition in which the machine is established When not in use or when the bin. is to be loaded. Slide plate 9'7 has an elongated slot 114 through which post assembly 162 projects. The slot is dimensioned to permit retraction of slide plate 97 from the feed path of cartridges, as shown in FIGURE 9, under' the inuenee of an actuating lever 115 to which plate 97 is pivotally lconne-cred and also to permit post assembly 162 to rotate relative to 4this plate.

Stop abutment 96 is a companion to abutment 95, extending into the opposite wall of bin 31 and engaging shelf 36 of the cartridge to balance the effect of abutment 95. Abutment 96, as represented most clearly in FIGURE 7, is the return bend portion of generally U-shaped wire or rod which, at its opposite end, has a configuration to l'assist in effecting a mechanical connection to lever 113 which actuates lever 112, this 'connection permitting lever 113 concurrently to actuate bot-h abutments 95 and 96. The connection is easily effected by forming a I-shaped termination at the actuated end of rod 96. Preferably, the rod passes freely through an elongated guide 116 supported on the deck of the mechanism and a bias spring 117 urges the rod to introduce the end thereof through an aperture of bin 31.

The timed operation of the pair of abutments 95 and 96 in relation to abutment 101 is accomplished by a cam 121 aftixed to the free end of a drive shaft 122 for rotation therewith. As shown in FIGURE 7, actuator 113 has a generally L-shaped configuration with a cam following roller 123 rotatably supported at. one end and terminating at its opposite end in an extension; engaged by rod 96. Actuator 113 is slotted at 12e and a pin 125 secured to frame 63 projects `through this slot. A spring 126 is anchored to pin 125 and to a finger 127- of the actuator to urge the Iactuator generally in the direction of bin 31. Displacement of the pin in that direction, as permitted by slot 124, rotates lever 112 in a counterclockwise direction because of its pivotal engagement with the actuator and concurrently dispiaces rod 96 to retract its free end from its normal position within the bin.

Actuator 115 of slide plate `9"/ is -pivoted to a pin 128 also extending from frame plate 63. A spring 131 extending between the actuator and. a -stationary bracket 4urges the actuator in a counterclockwise direction to introduce the free end off slide plate 97 into the cartridge feed path. Actuator 115 may be rotated in a clockwise direction to retract slide plate 97 from the bin by means of a pair of pins 132 and 133 which depend from the lower surface of cam 121.

At the start of a cartridge change cycle, slide plate 97 and stop abutments 95, 101 and 9d have the relative positions represented in FIGURE 3. As the apparatus enters the cartridge change cycle, cam 121 rotates in a counterclockwise direction and presents pin 132 to lever 115, withdrawing plate 97 from the feed path of the cartridges. Directly thereafter, the low sector of the cam is presentedr to cam follower 123 which then permits spring 117 to slide actuator 113 in the direction of bin 31. This causes oscillation of post assembly 102, rotating stop abutment 95 out of the feed path of lcartridges but introducing stop abutment 101 into that path at a point below the cartridge which has been at the playing level or position in the bin. At the same time, displacement of actuator 113 retracts stop abutment 96 and the complete -condition is that represented in FIGURE 9. The uppermost cartridge is now free and is ejected from the playing position while the cartridge immediately thereunder is introduced into the playing position. Continuing rotation of cam 121 restores stop abutments 95 and 96`to their normal positions shown in FIGURE 8 and retracts abutment 101. The pin 132 clears actuator 115, but spring 131 is not permitted to advance slide plate 97 to its normal position extending into the lbin because pin 133 is now in engagement with actuator 115. The actuator 115 remains withdrawn after the Icartridge Ifeed cyscle is completed.

Before leaving this general area o' the apparatus, it is appropriate to point out that the actuation of slide plate 97 occurs once in each cycle of cam 121 and the plate remains withdrawn during what may be referred to as the index or reference position and the cartridge change or escape position of the apparatus. It is the index position in which the apparatus stops in response to automatic shut-off to be considered hereinafter and the retraction of slide plate 97 is necessary in order that cartridges may be loaded into the bin as previously explained.

Take-up arrangement In order to transcribe a tape established at the playing position within bin 31, a take-up mechanism draws the tape along a path wherein it is presented in magnetic coupling relation to transcribing head 33. This is the requirement for both reproducing a program previously recorded on the tape of the cartridge and for recording a program on a tape fed from the cartridge. For convenience, however, reproducing alone will be considered.

The take-up mechanism comprises a reel 32 which has a hub 134 having a dat section 135 as shown in FIGURE 1. A exible leader 136 is affixed to the hub at one end and terminates at its opposite end in a coupling 137 which has been referred to above as an extractor. The detail view of FIGURE l shows that the coupler terminates in a formed section which may slide into the bifurcated couplingtermination 51 of tape carried by any cartridge. The fiat section 135 of the take-up reel hub is arranged in conjunction with the length of its leader 136 that, as the leader is coiled about hub 134, coupler 137 is disposed at the ilattened section of the hub as shown in FIG- URE 1. It has been found that this permits winding convolutions of a program tape thereover in a nearly circular- 1y symmetrical pattern.

Take up reel 32 is mechanically secured to a drive shaft 141 which projects above deck 63 so that the reel may conveniently be rotated or driven. To achieve a mechanical coupling between a cartridge at the playing position within bin 31 and take-up reel 32 the take up leader 136 is passed along a path between a driving capstan 142 and a cooperating pressure roller 143, past a tape groove formed at the terminal portion of a magnetic transducer or head 33 mounted on an adjustably positionable bracket 39, and between a tape guide 144 and cooperating pressure pad 145 leading to a housing 146 secured to deck 63 contiguous to that portion of storage bin 31 where coupler 51 of a cartridge in playing position is accessible as shown more clearly in FIGURE l0. The threading of the tape leader along this path may be accomplished before the instrument is released to the customer. In normal use of the instrument thereafter, the take-up leader 136 remains properly disposed along this path relieving the user from the annoyance of threading which is characteristic of many prior tape decks.

Reference is made to FIGURE which shows the structural details of housing 146. It has a channelway 147 cut out of a block 151 with a flared opening facing take-up reel 32 and leading directly to an aperture in the contiguous side wall of storage bin 31. The level of channel 147 corresponds to the cartridge playing level of bin 31. The channel is dimensioned to freely accept extractor 137 which, in its home or rest position, is disposed at the end of channel 147 projecting into bin 31 in vertical alignment with the position assumed by coupler 51 of a cartridge in the bin.

Obviously, in loading cartridges into the bin as indicated above, the proper orientation of the cartridge permits the coupling termination 51 of the cartridge to slide or thread over the complementary termination of extractor 137 as indicated in FIGURE 10 with showsthe position of a cartridge having just passed over extractor 137 during loading. The alignment of extractor 137 with the cartridge couplers 51 assures that sequential positioning of the cartridges at the playing level, as described above, `introduces the Vtermination of extractor 137 into complete coupling relation with tape termination 51 to establish a iirm coupling connection therebetween. To insure proper alignment between elements 137, 51 a rib 153 and rib 94 are respectively mounted on housing 146 below and above the channel 147. These ribs are positioned to orient the coupler 51 of each cartridge prior to its reaching the playing level.

Entrance of extractor 51 into housing 146 and its assuming its rest position shown in FIGURE 10 is relied upon to time part of the programming of the transport operating cycle. To that end a switch operator is incorporated into housing 146, comprising a plate 152 pivotally supported on the top surface of block 151 and urged in a clockwise direction by a spring 154. A tapered finger 155 depends from the undersurface of the plate, passing through a vertical channel 156 into channel 147 to be displaced therefrom as extractor 137 assumes its rest position. A switch operator or pin 157 lits loosely within a second vertically disposed channel 15S of block 151 and rests loosely upon the movable resilient contact of a double switch pair 161, 162 positioned on the undersurface of deck 63 directly beneath housing 146 as shown in FIGURE ll. The connection between plate 152 and pin 157 is established through a screw 163 threaded through an opening in the plate into alignment with pin 157. Through this construction one may conveniently adjust the actuation of the switch in response to movement of plate 152. Y

When extractor 137 is in any position other than that shown in FIGURE 10, plate 152 responds to spring 154 and depresses pin 157 to open switch pair 161, 162. However, as extractor 51 assumes the position shown in FIG- URE 10, at the end of a rewind operation, plate 152 is displaced Yin a counterclockwise direction permitting the resilient switch blades of contact pairs 161, 162 to move Vvertically upward and close circuits which respectively advance the programming cycle and indicate that a portion of the reset operation has been complete as explained hereinafter.

Driving mechanism As in any winding and reeling apparatus, the tape may be paid off one reel and taken up by the other through the simple expedient of driving that reel which serves at the moment as the take-up reel. Since the apparatus contemplates the use of one take-up reel 32 in conjunction with any of a number of cartridges stored in bin 31, it is necessary to provide a driving mechanism for selectively rotating reel 32 for the play of the cartridge instantaneously at the playing level in the storage bin. Reel 32 is driven by a motor 164 having a driving shaft 141 to which the reel is mechanically coupled through any suitable means. A similar motor 165 may drive the spindle assembly 43 -of the storage bin through a clutch Stb which is represented in FIGURE 4. The clutch permits positive drive from motor 165 to the spindle drive shaft 7'7 or a frictional drive therebetween.

The clutch assembly comprises a driving portion 166 having driving teeth 167 on the surface facing the spindle assembly. The driving element is rubber or other material having a high coefficient of friction. The driven part of the clutch comprises a casing 81 which encloses driver 16e and has on the surface facing the driver cornplementary teeth through which a positive driving connection may be established between the driving and driven elements. Spring 82 urges these teeth into engagement. The dimensions of driven portion 81 are such as to frictionally engage driving element 166 at its periphery as well as at its face 168 although normally the driving element is positioned, as shown in FIGURE 4, to effect mating engagement of the teeth of the clutch with a separation between surface 16S and the end cap of driven member 81. A pivoted lever 274 having a bifurcated termination 171 engages a reduced diameter section of the driven part of the clutch and may be rais-ed to separate the mating engagement of the teeth in the driving and driven portions of the clutch to have only a frictional engagement of the clutch members. The desirability of converting from positive to friction drive through the clutch will be made clear hereinafter in a discussion of resetting the instrument in the face of breakage of the tape.

The terminal portion of spindle shaft 77 to which driven clutch element 81 is to connect is flattened to be received by a rectangular shaped aperture in the driven clutch portion to assure a solid driving connection therebetween. The same type of connection is employed at the other end of spindle 77 where it connects with cap 35.

Driving of the tape along its path through the selective energization of motors 164 and 165 is appropriate in the initial portion of a transcribing cycle, for search purposes and also for rewind, but it is desired that more reiinely controlied drive be established for the tape during ytranscription and that is the function of capstan 142' and `its companion roller 143. Capstan 142 is driven by an induction motor 172 which appears in FIGURE 1l. The driving shaft 173 of the motor engages an idler wheel 174 secured to the capstan shaft 175. The end of that shaft remote from the capstan carries a iiy wheel 176 for the purposes of minimizing wow and flutter attributable to short term variations in the speed of motor 172.

Driving engagement of the tape with capstan 142 is accomplished by pressure `roller 143 rotatably supported on a bell crank 177 which is pivoted on a post 17S projecting from deck 63 as shown in FIGURE l. Since it is desirable to have selective drive of the tape through the agency of capstan 142, this bell crank carries a roller 181 functioning as a follower of cam 121. A spring 132 anchored at one end to the frame of the tape deck and also anchored to the end of the bell crank which carries pressure roller 143 biases bell crank 177 in a clockwise direction. During operating intervals in which the large radius section of cam 121 bears against roller 181, roller 143 is free ofthe tape and the capstan has no driving effect but when the low radial section of the cam is presented to the roller, as illustrated in FIGURE l, the bell crank yields to the bias of spring 182 and applies pressure roller 143 against the tape to render capstan 142 effective to feed the tape from a cartridge at the playing position in bin 31 to take-up reel 32.

It is most desirable that there be eicient magnetic coupling between the tape and transcribing head 33 and this results from having a well-defined path of travel of the tape past the head. The path is defined by the capstan and pressure roller on one side of the transcribing head and guide 144 and pressure pad 145 `at the opposite side. Since coupling of the head to the tape is of importance essentially only during intervals in which the -tape is subject to the driving effect of capstan 142, it is arranged that pressure pad 145 assumes its operating position only when pressure roller 143 is effective.

Pad is supported on a bell crank 183 pivoted to a post 114 supported on the deck and urged by a spring toward guide 144. A pin H56 on the bell crank lies over bell crank 177. Accordingly, when bell crank 177 is displaced by cam 121 to withdraw pressure roller 143, lever 177 engages pin 186 to concurrently relieve pressure pad 145 by displacing it from the tape path.

A braking mechanism shown in FIGURES 1l and l2 is provided as a safety feature to prevent tape from spilling, that is to say being fed out in an uncontrolled fashion, in the event that power to the apparatus is interrupted during the normal play or rewind operation of the tape deck. The brake arrangement includes a sol noid 187 having a core 191 movable in a particular direction when the solenoid is energized. A coil spring 1512 within the solenoid biases the core in the opposite direction. One end of the core is affixed to the ends of a pair of cables 193 and 194. Several convolutions of brake cable 193 are wound about a pulley 195 at the end of rive shaft 141 of `rnotor 164 and the free end of that cable is anchored to the frame of the machine. 1n similar fashion, cable 194 makes several turns about a pulley 196 on the end of drive shaft 197 of motor 165 and is then anchored to the frame of the machine.

During normal operation of the machine, solenoid 187 is energized and its core 191 moves to a position such that the convolutions of brake cables 193, 194 are loosened about their respective pulleys and 196. In other words, the brake, is not applied and there is no unnecessary load placed on the driving system of the reels. If the power should be interrupted, the solenoid becomes de-energized and spring 192 moves core 191 to a position which applies tension to cables 193 and 1&4. This places a strong braking force on the one of the two motors which is being in effect driven at that particular instant.

For example, if it be assumed that the tape is being played out of a cartridge and being wound on take-up reel 32, the cartridge hub is in effect a driven member which rotates in a ciockwise direction along with pulley 19o. De-energization of the solenoid in conjunction with the rotation of brake pulley 1% causes cable 194 to tighten sharply against brake pulley 19d and stop further rotation of the hub of `the supply cartridge. When the hub stops rotation, the tape can no longer be paid out and therefore the movement of the take-up mechanism is likewise brought to a halt.

Conversely, if the machine should be in rewind at the time of `a power Ifailure, pulley 195 will be rotating in a counterclockwise direction. The movement of core 191 downward under the inuence of spring 192 in conjunction with the rotation of pulley 195 sharply tightens brake cable 193 around puliey 195 to arrest further rotation of take-up reel 32.

The driven shaft in each case rotates in a particular direction and the brake cable is wound about the pulley on that shaft in the same direction. The brake cabies are `aixed to the solenoid core 191 so that the influence of spring 192 on the core tightens the cabie on the pulley of the driven shaft. If this condition is satisfied, a power failure causes the driven pulley to pull against the anchored end of its brake cable which tends quickly to stop further rotation. This condition is established with the cable wound in the direction indicated in FGURE ll for both the play and rewind operations.

Sensing system inasmuch as the tape deck is a fully automatic instrument having complex functions to be performed in proper relation to one another, it is necessary to provide a programming arrangement to time the sequence of functions to be accomplish-ed in any operating cycle. For thatreasori the instrument includes a sensing mechanism that is both reliable and accurate in its operation. It is designated as 201 and is illustrated in FIGURES 11, l3- 15, inclusive. The sensing system employs the principle that when a tape has been completely played, take-up reel 32 must have executed the same number of revolutions as the hub of the cartridge from which the tape has been paid out, irrespective of the length of the tape. The mechanism to be described has the attractive attribute that its function is `dependent yon the turns or revolutions of the reels and is independent of the thickness of the tape.

The sensing system comprises a p-air of carriages 202 and 203 and a family of contact pairs which operate in accordance with'the relative positions of these carriages. Their relative position is controlled by the cartridge from which the tape issues and by the take-up reel.

Carriage 202 is supported on a threaded shaft '204 `which is directly driven through a pair of gears 205 and 206 from drive shaft 141 of take-up reel 32. A partially threaded block 207 is mounted within the housing of carriage 202 and is apcrtured so that shaft 204 may pass therethrough. A spring 208 -biases the block upwardly `in order that it may engage the threads of shaft 204 to the end that rotation ofthe shaft effects longitudinal movement of the carriage in a direction determined by the direction of rotation of the shaft. A finger 211, in the `form of an extension of plate 207, projects through an opening in carriage 202 for a reason to be made clear hereafter. In like fashion, carriage 203 accommodates a thin plate 212 through which a shaft 213 extends, this shaft being driven from the driving shaft of motor 165 through mating gears 214 and 215. A spring urges plate 212 into engagement with the threads of shaft 213 so that carriage 203 may be displaced by rotation of this shaft.

The described coupling of each shaft 214 and 215 to the carriages 202 and 203, respectively, may yield so that either shaft is permitted to rotate even though the carriage which it drives may have achieved the limit of its travel.

The contact pairs to be operated in response to movement of carriages 202 and 203 includes a pair 216 supported from the frame of the instrument and positioned to be engaged and operated by a cam surface 217 formed on the lower portion of carriage *203.r The frame similarly supports contact pair 21S which is positioned to be engaged and actuated by a finger 2 21 projecting from the side of housing 203. Carriage 203 itself supports a contact pair 222 and a contact pair 223 the latter of which may be actuated from projection 224 of carriage 202 when the two carriages have certainrelative positions. A further contact pair 225 has as one element an extension of a blade of switch 222 supportedon carriage 203 and, as its other elem-ent, a switch member secured to carriage 202. The closing of contact pair 225 simultaneously causes the opening of switch 222. A double contact pair 226 and 227 are also positioned on carriage 203 and are actuated by a lever 228 which is pivotally mounted to carriage 203. Lever 228 in turn is rotated by a finger 231 which is mounted on carriage 202. Contact pairs 226, 227, lever 228 and finger 231 cooperate to provide a safety device when the search control is activated and the carriages reach their permissible limits of travel. The circuits connected tothe several switches are represented in FIGURE 16 and will be described subsequently; suffice it here to consider only the operation of the -contact pairs with the function resulting from their actuation.

The operation of the sensing 1system will be described with reference to FIGURES 13a, b c. The condition rep` resented in FIGURE 13a `may be thought of as the starting condition, that is to say, it illustrates the relative positions of carriages 202 and 203 when a cartridge 30 is in position at the playing level within bin 31 and is me-- chanically connected with take-up reel 32 through the coupling engagement ofcartridge termination 51 and extractor 137 within housing y146. Contact pairs 225, 216 and 223 are closed but contact pairs 2 22 and 218 are open.

When the instrument is turned on by actuation of a starrt or play button 232, motor 164 is energized and drives take-up reel 32. Motor is de-energized and the cartridge constitutes a load on the take-up system. While the hubs of take-up reel 32 and the tape supply cartridges 30 have the same diameters, reel 32 initially rotates rapidly compared with the reel of cartridge 30 which at this juncture, bears all of the program tape and therefore has a much larger effective diameter. As a consequence, shaft 204 is driven much faster than shaft 2113 and carriage 202 moves 'to the right along its shaft more quickly than the movement of carriage 203 in the same direction along its shaft.

After an initial winding step, rin which extractor 51 is drawn from housing 146 past capstan 142 and its pressure roller 143, carriage 202 will have advanced sulioiently from carriage 203 to first open contact pair 2-25 and then permit conta-ct pair 222 to close. This is shown in FIG- URE 13b where it is also apparent that switch pair 218 has closed while switch pair 216 has opened but these switch pairs are not effective in this part of the cycle.

Clo-sure of switch pair 222 results in the actuation of cam 121 through which capstan y142 is brought into driving engagement with the pnogram tape to control the feed of -t-he tape thereafter from cartridge 30 to take-up reel 32. This is known als the play molde whereas the first described condition may be referred to as the start mode. During the play mode, even thou-gh the tape feed is controlled by capstan 142, motor 164 remains sufficiently energized to drive take-up reel 32 and `accept the tape as it is fed by the capstan.

While take-up reel 32 and shaft 204 initially notate rapidly relative to the hu-b of cartridge 30 and shaft 213, their speed differential decreases during the play of the cartridge tape because the effective diameter of the hub of the take-up reel increases with each convolution of the tape wound thereon. When the reels have the same effective diameter, shafts 204 and 213 rotate at the same speed and for this transient condition there is no relative movement of carriages 202 and 203. Immediately thereafter, however, the take-up reel obtain-s the larger effective diameter and shaft 213 commences to rotate more rapidly than shaft 204. Near the end of the transcription the relative speeds of shafts 204 and 213 will have been reversed from their initial conditions and carriage 203 will have started its movement to the righ-t at a faster rate than carriage 202; it -will have commenced to overtake the latter and when the take-up reel has made exactly the same number of turns as the hub of the cartridge Wheel, switch 225 will have been closed as indicated in FIGURE 13e. Closure` of this contact pair` effects further incremental displacement of 'cam 121 raising roller 143 to disable the capstan drive, raising pressure pad and initiating the rewind portion of the cycle by energizing motor and de-energizing or, if desired, effecting a braking action with motor 164. During rewind, carriages 202 and 203 move to the left and return to the initial position of FIG- URE 13a.

When all but a few turns of tape have been rewound onto cartridge 30, carriage 203 Iin approaching the position of FIGURE 13a causes its cam section 217 to close contact" pair 216. Closure of these contacts causes a further incremen-tal displacement of cam 121 and establishes a slow rewind. In other Words, the rewind is carried out for most of the tape at a very high speed but when contact pair 216 is closed, the rewind continues a-t a very much reduced speed to prevent coupler 137 and extractor 5-1 from damaging the cartridge and housing 146 as they return to the starting position.

As explained above in describing the take-up mechamsm, homing of extractor 137 Within housing 146 permits switch operator 157 to close contact pair 161 to initiate rotation of cam 121 and exe-cute the aforedescribed cartridge change cycle.. Therotation of cam 12.1 continues, so long as' there remains a cartridge in bin 31 to be played, and places the instrument back in its start position so that the cycle may be repeated. After the last cartridge in the bin has been played and been rewound, the cartridge change cycle is interrupted and an automatic shut oi is accomplished in the manner to be described subsequently.

Overall operation To operate the tape deck, one or more cartridges are loaded into bin 31. T heir loading Orients each cartridge so that the one which is instantaneously at t-he playing position is in mechanical coupling engagement with the take-up arrangement 'as required for transcription. To start a transcription, the ori-ori switch 233 is adjusted to its on position Iand play button 232 is depressed. Thi place-s the instrument in its sta-rt mode in which take-up reel 32 is driven to present the program tape to the transcribing head 33. After the coupling elements 137 and 51 have cleared capstan 142 and its pressure roller 143, the drive is transferred through the influence of programming cam 121 to the capstan 142. At this time the lins-trument is in its play mode as sho-wn in FIGURE l and indicated by arrow 234 positioned adjacent cam 121 and the tape is transcribed. When the tape has been fully transcribed, programming cam 1211 in .conjunction with associated electrical circuitry explained more fully hereinafter places the instrument in its rewind condition and the tape is rewound into the cartridge at a very fast rate. Near the completion of the rewind function, cam '121 and its associated switch circuitry initiates a slow rewind for the iinal part of that function. When this function has been completed, cam 121 rotates to actuate the cartridge feed mechanism 38 and to re-establish the start conditions so that the next 4cartridge contained in the bin may be played.

This process is repeated until every cartridge contained -in bin 31 has been transcribed. As each cartridge is moved into the playing position within the bin, it is automatically coupled to the take-up mechanism because of the alignment of its coupling termination 51 with extractor 137 when the latter is in its :home position Within hou-sing 146 IWhere it is returned after the completion of each transcription. After the play of lthe iinal cartridge, the machine enters its automatic shut-off condition.

Automatic shut-O While it is desirable automatically to shut off the tra-nsport mechanism after the nal cartridge stored in bin 31 has been played in order to describe the shut-off mechanism, it is necessary rst to understand a lock-up linkage associated with play button 232.

Play button 232 is a push button actuator for a switch 235 mounted to the frame of the deck as shown in FIG- URE 1l. The push button is supported for vertical displacement and is urged Iupwardly by 'a spring 236. A locking plate 237, which is vslideably supported on the top surface of deck 63 as seen in FIGURE l, is urged toward switch Iactuator 232 by a spring 238. As the play button 232 is depressed, lock plate 237 slides over a shoulder portion thereof and locks the switch in its operated position as indicated in FIGURE 11. To accomplish automatic shut-off, it is necessary to slide plate 237 to the left, as Viewed in FIGURES 1 and ll, which permits spring 236 to return play button 232 to its ofi position. The mechanism for achieving this shutoff will now be considered.

A bell crank 241 is pivotally mounted on the top surface of deck 63 by a pin 242 and has a cam following termination which may be displaced by .a pin 249 positioned on programming cam 121. At its opposite extremity, this lever has a hook shaped termination 243 and the lever is normally biased in .a counterclockwise direction by Ia spring 244 but its displacement in that direction is limited by a stop 245.

Cooperating with lever 241 is a pivoted lever 75 supported on a pivot pin 246 .and biased in the direction of bin 31 by 4a spring 247. Its movement in that direction is limited by engagement of one end of lever 75 with the side of the bin. Intermediate this termination 4of lever 75 and pivot 246 is a cam surface 248 disposed in the path of pin 68 which extends from platform 64 within the bin. At its opposite end, lever 75 car-ries an opstanding pin 251 which may be engaged by the hook termination 243 of lever 241 although, under normal circumstances, their relative position is such that they do not engage one another.

So long as cartridges are sto-red in bin 31 to be played by the machine, the operating cycle proceeds as described above 4and in each such cycle the cartridge feed mechanism 38 is actuated to advance another cartridge into the playing position. In the cartridge feed cycle immediately succeeding the play of theV lowermost cartridge inthe bin, pin 68 abuts cam surface 248 and rotates pin 75 against the inuence of spring 247, moving the lever in a counterclockwise direction. Immediately thereafter, the pin 249 of programming cam 121 engages and displaces lever 241 in a clockwise direction about its pin 242. This displace-ment of lever 241 occurs after each cartridge feed cycle and displaces hook 243 in a direction to engage pin 251. Their engagement is only possible, however, after lever 75 has been actuated by pin 68, moving lever 75 to the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 1 and introducing its pin 251 into the path of movement of the hook 243. Engagement of this hook with pin 251 permits lever 241 to displace slide plate 237 to the left as viewed in FIGURE 1, releasing switch button 232 so that its spring 236 may return the button to its off position and shut oil the machine at least so far as its programming circuitry is concerned.

Search The machine, by preference, employs a tape adapte-d for a relatively slow transcription speed. For example, it has been proposed that the tape be driven at the speed of 1% -i.p.s. as distinguished from the 3% i.p.s. speed of other know devices. The advantages of the slower tape speed are obvious in reducing the size of the cartridge for a given playing time'. Where the machine does employ a slow transport speed, however, the fuser benefits from a search feature which permits the tape to be moved lrapidly in either direction to locate some particular part of the program material contained thereon. Such a feature has been provided in the apparatus represented in the drawings.

The search control 252 is shown in FIGURES l and 7. It is a generally heart-shaped cam mounted for rotation on a post extending from deck 63. A cam following roller 253 is presented to this cam and is carried on a slide plate 254. The free end of the slide plate supports a pin 255 which couples the slide plate to bell crank 177. When slide plate 259 is moved in the direction of cam 121, bell crank 177 is rotated against the action of spring 182. This removes bothpressure roller 143 and pressure pad 145 from their operative positions. This is desirable because the search takes place at .a speed much faster than that attained through capstan `142 and therefore the capstan drive is disabled during searching. Intermediate its ends, slide plate 254 has la slot 256 which may receive a pin 257 depending downwardly from a lever 258 pivoted to a post 261 on the deck. The opposite end of lever 258 overlies an enlarged portion of the shaft which terminates in play button 232 to permit pin 257 to lock with slot 256 in response to the releasing of play button 232 when the search control is rotated. A spring 262 encloses a depending projection 263 :of lever 25S Iand urges the lever in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot. The slot Iand pin arrangement is shown more clearly in FIGURE 7.

It is appropriate to release play button 232 during yany operating interval in which the search control is to be effective and accordingly cam 264 has a cut-away cam section 265 .against which rides a cam following roller 266 which projects upwardly from slide plate 237.

its normal cycle.

Ashown results in cam section 265 displacing slide plate 237 by its influence upon cam following roller 266. This releases the locking plate from push button 232 and causes the push button t-o return to its oi positi-on.

Concurrently, a hi-gh portion of cam 264 is presented to cam follower 253 to displace slide bar 254 in the direction of program cam 121. This causes pressure roller f 143 and pressure pad 145 to be moved away from the tape in order that the tape may pass freely along its path without any interference from the oapstan or the guide 142, 144. The pressure roller 143 and pressure pad 145 are retained in this positi-on because the movement of the slide barwhich displaced these elements resulted in pin 261 dropping into locking engagement with slot 256 of the slide bar, being helped in this movement by the effect of the spring 262 which pivots lever 258 labout its pivot 261.

Moreover, at the same time play button 232 is released and pressure roller 143 is removed from its operative position, a high speed energizing circuit is completed selectively to reel motors 164 or 165 depending upon the direction of search that is desired. After the tape has #been wound to present a preselected portion to the transcribing head 33, search control 25.2 is returned to its normal position represented in IFIGURE l. The machine is now'in a quiescent condition and the tape ymay tbe transcribed by depressing play button 232. The button engages lever 253 and rotates it in a clockwise direction to release the locking engagement of pin 2.57 and slot 256. Also, slide plate 237 returns to its locking engagement to ihold the play button in its on position and transcription then proceeds in the normal Way.

Reject During the play of any given tape, the user may elect to discontinue the Itranscription and reject rthat particular f cartridge from the playing position within lbin 31. This is accomplished by la reject button 267 which appears in FIGURE l. When the reject button is depressed, a circuit is completed Iwhich is essentially the same as that which initiates rewind after a tape Vhas .been completely transcribed. It puts the apparatus into rewind in which the tape'is rewound upon its cartridge and then ejected `in the usual manner of the cartridge 'change cycle.

Reset mechanism Provision is made both to interrupt the normal playing cycle of the instrument and `to permit its (being properly reset in the event that a tape should break during transcription. If the tape should break while take-up reel 32 is being driven, carriage 202 Will continue its Inovement toward the take-up reel but movement fof carriage 203 will stop. As the carriage separation exceeds the normal permissible amount, actuator 224 of carriage 202 opens normally closed contact pair 223 supported by carriage 203. This de-energizes the tape deck and interrupts Alfter the tape has -been repaired or spliced, it is necessary to reset carriages 202 Vand 203 to their normal relative positions before starting the instrument anew on its operating cycle. This isthe function of the reset mechanism.

As represented in FIGURE 14, there is a reset button 268 accessible on the top of deck 32 in the region be- .tween lever 241 and search control 252. It is in efrect a switch operator which controls the reset cincuitry by actuation of a switch 277. A spring 279 normally biases the reset button to its switch-open position. The switch operator has a depending portion 271 'with a struck out mem- `ber 272 and terminates in a horizontally disposed shoe 273 positioned in parallel relation .to shaft 204. Normally, shoe 273 is clear of carriage 202 and its extending projection 207 but when reset 268 has )been depressed, `the shoe is lowered to engage projection 207 and depress it against the urging of springs 208, shown in FIGURE 15, with the end result of interrupting the mechanical coupling between carriage 202 and shaft 204. Projection 272 of the reset overlies a lever 274 which pivots about a shaft 275. The opposite end of `the lever has a bifuricated termination 171 that is received in a reduced diameter portion of driven clutch element 81 of FIGURE 4 as previously explained. Rotation of clutch lever 274 about its pivot shaft in response to actuation of reset 268 separates the normally mating teeth o-f 'the driver and driven portions of clutch 80 so that these clutch elements have then only a frictional engagement. Finally, a hairpin type spring 276 is bridged between carriages 202 and 203 and tends to urge them together. To facilitate mounting this spring in a horizontal plane, carriage 203 may have a vertical extension suitably apertured so that sha-ft 204 may freely rotate therein as indicated in FIGURE 15.

To accomplish reset, reset button 26S is depressed and is held actuated. As -a consequence, clutch lever 274 is displaced -to convert the drive of the hub of the cartridge instantaneously in the playing position of bin 31 from positive to a friction drive. Aiso, shoe 273 releases the coupling of housing 202 lto shaft 204, permitting spring 276 to displace housing 202 toward the vertical extension of housing 283. At the same time, switch 277 is operated and motor 165 alone Vis energized. The cartridge hub is driven from vthis motor to rewind the tape int-o the cartridge. Of course, shaft 213 is simultaneously driven and moves carriage 203 toward its starting position and carriage 202 follows' along because of the coupling afforded by spring 276. This continues until either of two conditions is reached: either the carriages return to their starting positions before the tape is completely Wound or the tape is wound onto the cartridge before the carriages reach home.

If the carriages return to their start position first, drive plate 212 of carriage 203 yields since it is only spring urge-d against the threads of shaft 213 and therefore the continued driving of the carriage hub causes no damage to the sensing mechanism. Ultimately, as the tape `is fully restored, extractor 51 enters housing 146 to operate switch pair 161 and de-energize motor 165.

lFor the other condition that may be established, clutch 30 slips and prevents damage .to the taupe and its cartridge du-ring the period in which the continued driving effect of motor 165 is used solely to restore carriages 202 and 203 fully` to their starting positions. When these positions Ihave ibeen attained, switch pair 218 is opened \by switch operator 221 of carriage 203 to de-energize motor 165. When the reset has been accomplished, the machine has ejected the cartridge containing the repaired tape and is ready to execute its neX-t normal cycle of operation.

Control circuitry yThe transport device operates from a `conventional volt alternating current source as shown in FIGURE 16. The switch 233 is .connected in an A.C. power line input circuit and serves as the main power switch. The sole- V223 associated with the sensing device an-d reset mechanism for use in conjunction with the |broken-tape safety feature. The capstanjmotor thus is normally directly controlled by switc-h 233.

As previously explained, cam 121 controls amajority of the levers yand linkages which, in turn, .control theoprationhofjthe device. A driving mechanism is needed to both position the cam and` simultaneously activate electrical circuitry which must cooperate with the cam to electrically controlthe `tape transport operation. As shown in FIGURE 7, cam 121 is fastened to Vone end of `a drive shaft 122 which is driven through a reduction 'gear assemb1y201 mounted to the underside of deck 63. The other end of drive shaft 122 passes through a multisec tion wafer switch 282 which is firmly fastened to the underside of gear. box 283 A program motor 284 is mounted to gear box 283 'andjits drive shaft 285 is coupled to `the gear 'box to rotate shaft 122.

T-he program switch 282 is constructed of four wafers respectively designatedas the carry-over wafer286, the program motor wafer 287, the` take-up motor wafer `288, and the cartridge motor wafer 289. Waters 286 and'287 cooperate to control the operation of-kpro-gram switch motor 284 while wafers 288 and 289 respectively control the positions 1,53, 5, 7, 9 and 1 1 respectively designated as the index, start, play, rewind, slowrewind and escape positions. In contrast, positions 2, 4, 6, 8, 1() and 12 are required transition positions necessary t'o bring about coordination ofthe mechanical and electricalKV functions of the program-ming system. This will =be explained further hereinafter.

The operation yof the programsystem may best be explained withreference to FIGURE 16 if itA is assumed that cartridges are positioned within thebin land on-off switch 233 is in the closed position. The rotors 'ofV the four wafers "are in their index position as shown. With cartridges in the rbin, lock out contact pair 74'positioned alongside thebin is closed. Depressing play button 232 closes the contacts of switch 235 'and energizes the program motor with A.C.' potential derived from the input by way of contact 1 yof wafer 287. The energized pro- Vgram motor moves the rotors of all'the wafers to position 2. In this position wafer switch'287 is open but carryover Wafer 286 continues 'the A.C. circuit ofthe program motor through its contact 2 and the motor `remains energized until the rotors reach the start position 3. The energizing circuit for the' program motor is now opened and the motor stops rotating.

In positions 1 and 2 wafers 288 and '289 respectively apply a D.C. voltage to take-up and cartridge motors 164, 165. This prevents rotation of the' take-up reel 312 so that extractor 137 remainsin position within housing 146 when cartridges are being placed into or being fed upward from bin' 31. It also prevents spindleY 43 'from' rotating so that the cartridges may move freely withinV the bin. In position?) -full A.C. voltage is applied to take-up motor 164 while cartridge 'motor165' continus to 'have DC. voltage applied to it. Accordingly, the `take-up reel withdraws tape from' the cartridge very slowly due to the braking effect on the cartridge' reel of the D.C. voltage applied to the Vcartridge' motor.

After a predetermined length of tape has been wound on the take-'up reel, contact pair 222 of the sensing'mechanism 201 closes. This energizes program motor 284 through contact 3 of wafer switchV 287 and contact 4 of carry-over wafer'286 continues this circuit until position 5, the play position, is reached.

The rotors are mounted upon drive.

positiony 11. ving a portion of the cartridge change cycle.

In position 4 take-up* motor 164 continues to be fully 'energized throughtake-up waferf288 butin position 5 a lowr'alternating current4 voltageI is applied to it through contacts 291 ofsearch switch 252 and'a dropping resistor 292. In position 4 cartridge motor 165 stillhas the rhraking D.C. voltage; however, inposition 5 this circuit is opened and no other circuit is 'complete to the cartridge moton As shaft 122 rotates ltherrotors to the 4fourth and iifth positionsLcarn 121 movespressure roller 143 and pressure pad to the position shown in FIGURE 1. In this'position, capstanv142 extracts the tape from the cartridge at the playing levelandgthe low'A.C. voltage applied Ato the take-uprnotor is sufficient tojrotate the take-up reelto'receive the tape asit leaves the capstan drive. p t

y When the entire tapeh'as been played, sensing system 201 closes 'contact pair 225 whichwcompletes 'an A.C. circuit through contaet`5 of wafer 287 toV theprograrn motorfto move the rotors to -position 6. Contact 6 of carry-over wafer 286'continues this circuit to step the rotors to position 7, the yrewind position, where the circuit for the program motor is opened at contact pair 216.

The`6th and 7thy positions of wafer switch'288 are on open circuit and the A.C. voltage supply to Itake-up motor A164 is removed. Cartridgemotor 165 in turn'receives full A.C. voltage through wafer 289 in positi-ons 6 and 7. In moving the rotors from positions 5 to 7, shaft 122 concurrently rotates cam 121 to move pressure roller 143 and pressure pad 145 away from capstan 142 and guide post j to program motor 284 through contact 7 of program wafer 287. Thekprograrn motor moves the rotors to position 8 andcarryfover wafer 286 continues the circuit until t-he rotors reach position 9, the slow rewind position, where the program motor stops lsince contact pair 161 is open.

In position 8 take-upwafer 288 applies a D.C. volt- "age from"rectifier 281' to take-up motor 164 to momentarily stop the'rotation Vof thetake-up reel and thereby halt the rewind operation to prevent damage to the coupler andextract'or. In positionf9 a 'lower DC. voltage is ap- ,plied to take-up'motorld through a dropping resistor 293and wafer 288. Thecartridge wafer 289 continues .to supply A.C.l voltage to the cartridge motor in positions 48 and 9 thus thev rewind operation resumes but at a much slower speed because of the loading effect of take-up motor 164.

When all of the tape has been returned to the cartridge, extractor 137 returns' toits home position in housing 146.

'Switch pair 161 now'closes and the program motor is energized through wafer 287. The wafers 286, 287 cooperate to'continue `energization of the program motor 'until 'the rotors have moved through positions 10, 11, and

12 to position 1.

In'positions 10, 1'1, and 12 D.C. voltage is applied to 'take-up motor 164 through wafer`288 to prevent movement of the take-up reel. rCartridge Wafer 289, however, lmakes no circuit to cartridge motor 16S in positions 10 and 12 'but does apply a D.C. voltage to the motor in This keeps spindle 43 from rotating dur- In passing from position`9 to position 1, cam 121 activates feed mechanism 38 which moves anew cartridge 'to the playing level if one remains to be played and the entire program cycle repeats. Howevenif'no cartridges remain to be played,` play button'232`will be released by the automatic r`shut-off feature and the program motor will stop in index position 1. The lock out switch constant pair 74 'and the play switch contacts 235 are in series and both must be closed before the cycle can again be started. 1f

the play button were not released, i.e. the contacts of switch 235 were not. opened, the program motor would start as soon as platform 64 became depressed when new cartridges were being placed into the bin.

It is sometimes desirable to interrupt the normal playing cycle of the tape and continue on to the next cartridge or to. turn the machine off before Vthe last cartlidge has been completely played. Reject button 267 is provided for this purpose and has its contact pair electrically connected in parallel with contact pair 225 of sensing device 201. As previously explained the closing of contact pair 225 initiates a high-speed rewind operation. This same automatic rewind condition may be brought about at the users election by depressing reject button 267 when the machine is in the play condition. .In all other modesof operation, reject control 267 is ineffective.

Reset button -268 is provided to reactor realign sensing. mechanism y201 in `the event that the `tape breaks during the transportation of it. Shouldthe tape break, normally closed contact pair 223 `on carriage 203 will open as previously explained. Contacts 223 are in series with power switch 233 and, when opened, remove all power from most of the transport mechanism; however, transformer 278 and solenoid 18-7 still remain energized. Before the tape can be repaired, pressure roller 143 and pad 145 must beraised through the use of the search control 252. After the tape is repaired, reset switch 26S'mustbe depressed to reset mechanism 201.

' The reset switch energizes cartridge motor 165 through normally closed switch contact pairs 162 and 221 which are connected in parallel to the A.C..source. For successful realignment of the sensing mechanism and return of the repaired tape to the cartridge, button 268 must remain depressed until the cartridge motor stops and this will occur only when both switch contact pair 162 and 221 are open.

When the tape has been fullyrewound into the cartridge, contact pair 162 is opened by the homing of extractor 137'in housing 146. Contact pair 221 opens when carriage 202 reaches its home position during the reset operation. When both contact pairs 162. and 221 have 'been opened cartridge motor 165 is de-energized. As an incident to the reset operation, cam 12,1v`and the rotors Aof thewafer switches must be returned to position 1" to penmit normal operation when the reset operation has been completed. Actually, the program mechanism automatically returns to the index positionibecause sensing mechanism 201, in returning to its home position, actuates the same switch contacts as those closed during the regular rewind.` f

When the reset lbutton is depressed,`tl1e control circuits from wafer switches 288 and 289 to the take-up and cartridge motors are open; therefore, t-he Vpotentials normally applied to these motors by such switches are not applied.

The search switch control 252 permits moving the tape at a relativelyhigh speed in either direction to search out a desired portion of the recorded program. The control circuitry of search control 252 includes the twelve contactwafer switch 291. The rotor of the switch is made up of two asymmetrical contact strips 294 and 295 which .respectively apply appropriate voltages to the takeup and cartridge motors by way of switch 235 but only during intervals in which the rotors of the take-up and cartridge Vswitches 288 and 289 are in the fifth position. This is the only position through which the circuitry of Search switch 291- may be extended to take-up and cartridge motors 164 and165.

' Search control 252 may be moved to either a forward or a reverse search position and, in either case, play switch 235 is opened by the release of button 232 as previously described. The forward search corresponds to a displacement of the rotor of switch 291 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 16 and reverse search corresponds to clockwise displacement of that rotor. v The rotor position for forward search causes circuit connections to be completed at both contacts designated FWD and the reverse Search position completes a circuit involving both contacts designated REVJ It is apparent from inspection of FIGURE l6 vthat displacement of the search switch to either of these searching positions causes a temporary closure of the rotor with intermediate contacts designated 296-299, inclusive.

As the search control is moved in the clockwise direction, the circuit from take-up motor is extended from contact 5 of switch 288, through rotor segment 295, to contact 298 through normally closed contact pair 226 to the A.C. bus. Concurrently, the circuit extends from a parallel connection contact 298 and contact 296, rotor segment 295 and position 5 of switch 287 which connects with cartridge motor 165. This applies full A.C. voltage manually to both motors to interrupt the normal movement of the tape.V A similar circuit may be tracted, involving contacts 297 and 299 as the search control is rotated counterclockwise to establish forward search. Consequently, normal tape movement is interrupted as search control 252 is displaced to establish fast tape movement for searching in either direction.

With the search switch displaced in a clockwise direction to the contact REV terminals, A.C. voltage is applied to cartridge motor through contact 5 of switch 289, rotor segment 295 and the upper one of the REV contacts of switch291 which leads directly to the A.C. supply. The other REV contact of switch 291 is on open circuit at contact pair 227 so that the take-up motor 164 is de-energized. When the search in this direction has been completed, control 252 is returned to the position represented in FIGURE 16. In this position both the cartridge and take-up motors 165 and 164 are connected` to the A.C. supply through wafer switch 291 and contacts on switch 235. This of course stops the tape movement until play button 232 is depressed to resume normal operation. l

To search in the forward direction, search control 252 is displaced in a counterclockwise direction and it connects with the terminals FWD In this condition takeup motor 164 is energized through terminal 5 of switch 288 and the upper one of the FWD contacts of switch 291. i The circuit to cartridge motor 165, however, is interrupted since the otherFWD contact is on open circuit at contact pair 2,27.v After the Search has been completed and the search control returned to the position indicated in FIGURE 16, motors 164 and 165 are again concurrently energized to stop tape movement.

Contact pairs 226 and 227 are safety devices which impose limits on the search function. These switch pairs are supported by carriage 203 and are actuated by engagement with actuator 231 at opposite limits of the carriage travel. When actuated normally closed contact pair 226 is open to de-energize the motor through which the searching has been conducted and contact pair 227 is closed to applyv a D.C. or braking potential to the other motor which, up to this instant, has been completely de-energized because contact` pair 227 has been opened. This stops the search rapidly and imposes limits for searching in both the forward and reverse directions. The play or rewind controls of the tape deck may then 'be used to return the instrument to one of its normal operating conditions or alternatively, the search control may be rotated to its other extreme position.

Conductors 301 leading from the pick-up or transcribing head 33 connect with an audio or other reproduction system of conventional construction. Since no claim of novelty is predicated on this signal reproducing circuitry, that circuit arrangement has not been shown.

The described transport mechanism may accommodate a group of tape cartridges or a single cartridge as the user desires and it avoids certain disadvantages of prior devices in that the user is not required to thread the tape through the instrument. LThe sensing mechanism iny conjunction with the programming system permits the transport to be fully automatic in its play of one or a series of cartridges While reducing to a minimum the manipulative steps required of the user. The search feature permits selected passages of any given tape tobe located quickly should the user prefer to hear portions rather than the entirety of a given tape. Additionally, the instrument has a number of mechanical advantages including the self-aligning feature of the spindle assembly, the braking mechanism included in the cartridges, the cartridge feed andautomatic shut-off features.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. Keeling apparatus of the type employing a plurality of iexible tapes each respectively housed on separate supply reels, said apparatus comprising;

a bin having a major opening for accepting and storingV said supply reels;

a platform positioned Within said bin opposite said opening for supporting said supply reels; means for biasing said platform towards said opening; a supply reel feeding mechanism including an oscillating support positioned adjacent one side of said bin, a first stop abutment on said support normally projecting through said side into said bin in the path of saidV supply reels fed from saidl bin, -a second stop abutment on said support spaced from said first 4abutment in the direction of said platform by an amount no greater than the thickness of said reel and normally clear of said path, and a third stop abutmenty normally projecting intor said bin in the path of said reels through a side thereof opposite said one side; means for oscillating said support to retract said first abutment from while concurrently introducing said second abutment into said path and for simultaneously retracting said third abutment from said path to permit said platform to advance and feed one supply reel and for thereafter returning said abutments to their normal positions; means for mounting said first abutment on said support for movement from its normal position to a second position clear of said path in response to the insertion of a supply reel into said bin;

and means for biasing said first abutment to its normal position.

2. Reeling apparatus of the type employing a plurality of fiexible tapes each respectively housed on separate supply reels, said apparatus comprising:

a bin having a major opening for accepting and s fofing said supply reels;

a platform positioned Within said bin opposite said opening for supporting said supply reels;

means for biasing said platform toward said opening;

a supply reel feeding mechanism including an oscillating support positioned adjacent one side of said bin, a first stop -abutment on said support, normally projecting through said side into said bin in the path of supply reels fed from said bin. and a forklike second stop abutment on said support spaced from said first abutment in the direction of said platform by an amount no greater than the thickness of a supply reel and normally clear of said path; means for oscillating said support to retract said first abutment from While concurrently introducing one of the tines of said second abutment into said path to permit said platform to advance and feed one supply reel and for thereafter returning said abutments to their normal positions;

means for mounting said first abutment on said support for pivotal movement, in response to the insertion of a supply reel intosaidbin, fromvits normal position to a second position which is between the tines of said second abutment Iand is clear of said path;

and means for biasing said first abutment about its pivoted support to its normal position.

3.v Reeling apparatus of the/type employing a plurality of flexible tapes each respectively housed on separate supply reels, said apparatus comprising:

a bin having a major opening for accepting and storing said supply reels;

a platform positioned within said bin opposite said opening for supporting said supply reels; means for biasing said platform towards said opening; a supply reel feeding mechanism including an oscillating support positioned adjacent one side of said bin, a first stop abutmenton said support normally projecting through said side into said lbin in the path of said supply reels fed from said bin, a second stop abutment on said support spaced fromr said first abutment in the direction of said platform by an amount no greater than the thickness of said reel and normally clear of said path, and a third stop abutment of flexible material normally projecting into said bin in the path of said reels through a side :thereof opposite said one side;

means for oscillating saidsupport to retract said first abutment While concurrently introducing said second abutment into said path and for-simultaneously retracting said third abutment from-said path to permit said platform to -advance and feed one ,supply reel and for there-after returning said abutments to their nor-mal positions; Y

means for mounting said first abutment on said support for movement `from its normal position to a second position clear of said path in response to an insertion of a supply reel into said bin; p

and means for biasing said ,first abutment to its normal position.

4. Reeling apparatus of the type employing a plurality of flexible tapes each respectively housed on separate supply reels, said apparatusl comprising:

a bin having a -major opening for accepting and storing said supply reels;

a platform positioned Within said bin opposite said opening for supporting said supply reels;

means for biasing said platform toward said opening;

a supply reel feeding mechanism including an. oscillating support positioned adjacent said bin, a first stop abutment on said support normally projecting into said bin vin the path of supply reels fed from said bin, and a second stop abutment on said support spaced from said first abutment in the direction of said platform by an amount no greater than the thickness of a supply reel and normally clear of said path;

means for oscillating said support to retract said rst abutment from While concurrently introducing said second yabutment into said path to permit said platform to advance and feed vone supply reel and for thereafter returningsaid abu-tments to their normal posi-tions;

a third stop abutment positioned adjacent said bin and normally projecting into said path;

means for moving said third stop abutment out of said path when said feeding mechanism is advancing and feeding one supply reel;

means for mounting said first abutment on said support for movement from its normal position to a 

1. REELING APPARATUS OF THE TYPE EMPLOYING A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE TAPES EACH RESPECTIVELY HOUSED ON SEPARATE SUPPLY REELS, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: A BIN HAVING A MAJOR OPENING FOR ACCEPTING AND STORING SAID SUPPLY REELS; A PLATFORM POSITIONED WITHIN SAID BIN OPPOSITE SAID OPENING FOR SUPPORTING SAID SUPPLY REELS; MEANS FOR BIASING SAID PLATFORM TOWARDS SAID OPENING; A SUPPLY REEL FEEDING MECHANISM INCLUDING AN OSCILLATING SUPPORT POSITIONED ADJACENT ONE SIDE OF SAID BIN, A FIRST STOP ABUTMENT ON SAID SUPPORT NORMALLY PROJECTING THROUGH SAID SIDE INTO SAID BIN IN THE PATH OF SAID SUPPLY REELS FED FROM SAID BIN, A SECOND STOP ABUTMENT ON SAID SUPPORT SPACED FROM SAID FIRST ABUTMENT IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID PLATFORM BY AN AMOUNT NO GREATER THAN THE THICKNES OF SAID REEL AND NORMALLY CLEAR OF SAID PATH, AND A THIRD STOP ABUTMENT NORMALLY PROJECTING INTO SAID BIN IN THE PATH OF SAID REELS THROUGH A SIDE THEREOF OPPOSITE SAID ONE SIDE; MEANS FOR OSCILLATING SAID SUPPORT TO RETRACT SAID FIRST ABUTMENT FROM WHILE CONCURRENTLY INTRODUCING SAID SECOND ABUTMENT INTO SAID PATH AND FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY RETRACTING SAID THIRD ABUTMENT FROM SAID PATH TO PERMIT SAID PLATFORM TO ADVANCE AND FEED ONE SUPPLY REEL AND FOR THEREAFTER RETURNING SAID ABUTMENTS TO THEIR NORMAL POSITIONS; MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID FIRST ABUTMENT ON SAID SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT FROM ITS NORMAL POSITION TO A SECOND POSITION CLEAR OF SAID PATH IN RESPONSE TO THE INSERTION OF A SUPPLY REEL INTO SAID BIN; AND MEANS FOR BIASING SAID FIRST ABUTMENT TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. 